Sunrise at Rangiora The day I planned to fly our Skyleader GP One to the 'Classic Fighters' airshow at Omaka, there was a gusty NW wind predicted for the middle of the day. I waited at the Oporo Flat farm for 3 hours until the wind eventually mellowed, so I could safely take off and fly to Balclutha and on up the east coast. The other two microlights in our group, ZK-WET (SeaRay amphibian) and ZK-ZMB (Rans S6), departed Taieri airfield about the same time, so they had a big head start on me. My GP One eventually caught up with them at Rangitata Island. After a short stop, we flew on to Rangiora for a BBQ with the club members.
Next day we continued to track up the east coast. After lunch at Kaikoura airfield, and an interesting cross-wind departure, we flew into an increasing headwind funnelling through Cook Strait until we reached Blenheim. The practice programme at the "Classic Fighters" airshow meant that we had to hold for 10 minutes before given clearance to land at Omaka. Then it was a just a matter of taxiing behind the 'Follow Me' vehicle, parking, tying down the GP One and settling into our makeshift accommodation in a nearby hangar.
Next day we continued to track up the east coast. After lunch at Kaikoura airfield, and an interesting cross-wind departure, we flew into an increasing headwind funnelling through Cook Strait until we reached Blenheim. The practice programme at the "Classic Fighters" airshow meant that we had to hold for 10 minutes before given clearance to land at Omaka. Then it was a just a matter of taxiing behind the 'Follow Me' vehicle, parking, tying down the GP One and settling into our makeshift accommodation in a nearby hangar.
 rocky coastline at Goose Bay |  lunch at Kaikoura airfield |  a small airborne WET above the big, blue Pacific wet. |  intensely pink salt ponds at Lake Grasmere |  parked at Omaka |
